KARACHI: Seaview residents to file $300m damages suit
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 24: Residents of the Seaview area have planned to file a US$300 million suit for damages caused by the spillage from the broken oil tanker, Tasman Spirit.
According a press release of the Seaview Residents Society (SRS), it has engaged a lawyer, Nasir Maqsood, to file the suit seeking compensation — $100 million for damage to property, $50 million for treatment and disturbance, $100 million for beach destruction and $50 million for miscellaneous damage.
A general body meeting of the SRS was held on the demand of the residents of Seaview, Darakhshan Villas, Galaxy Skyline, Phase V Extension and Phase VI who are worst-affected by the spillage.
Convener of the SRS Aziz Suharwardy informed the meeting that a total of 1,500 flats, 220 villas and approximately 1,000 houses in Phase V Ext and Phase VI in Defence area were bearing the brunt of the spillage.
He said that the SAS was inundated by complaints from area people who were facing health problems like allergies, sore throat, skin diseases and breathing problems since the accident.
He pointed out that when Exxon Valdez spilled crude oil in an uninhabited place in Alaska, she was fined more than US$4 billion as compensation and clean-up proceedings. “Here, a ship has spilt 30,000 tons of oil in the heart of our city which would destroy our beaches, our fish, our mangroves and our environment and the KPT has fined it just $200,000.
The residents, led by Arif Sirhandi of Seaview, claiming thattheir lives were adversely affected, had consulted lawyers who advised them to file a suit for damages as their life pattern was undergoing a change due to this mishap.
A Seaview resident, Javed Siddiqui, working in shipping management, revealed that the PNSC which had a monopoly in transporting crude oil, is paid 34 per cent higher freight rates than those paid to the most modern tanker. It should be questioned that why is it using 24-year-old ships to transport such a critical cargo.
He said that the DHA, Sheerin Jinnah Colony and Clifton residents had a right to know that why the PNSC was not using modern double hull tankers when accidents of ships running aground had been taking place with regular frequency in and around Karachi harbour.
Another tanker, Golden Gate of Polembros Shipping Company, which also owns Tasman Spirit spilled 3,000 tons of oil in Karachi harbour a year ago. Instead of blacklisting the company, the Golden Gate was allowed to leave Karachi after paying a symbolic fine.
Mr Siddiqui informed the residents that the spill was the result of the lax attitude of the PNSC and KPT. He advised them to move the Sindh High Court to obtain a stay order whereby only tankers with double hulls and less than 15 years of age should be allowed entry. He cautioned that the PNSC was preparing to buy a 20-year-old Greek tanker with single hull.
